Weekend

Our busy weekend entailed working outside both days to accomplish a lot. These photos are a little out of order but due to my arm (I'll tell you at the bottom of this what I did), I will try and recap things nicely.

Graydon, since he was a baby has always enjoyed "playing" in the dirt while I work in the garden. Ask him to help and he says he's too busy. The above photo is him enjoying the sunshine, playing with bugs, sitting next to a HUGE compost pile we had delivered. Ugh, when I feel up to it, I have gotta get it moved! To the left of Graydon is a trench of potatoes I planted and the the right, the wooden post you see is peas the went in also.

Check out this beautiful forsythia in full bloom. It hasn't bloomed like this in several years. I guess when we disrupted it two years ago did it some good. Also look at this wonderful fence my hubby put up. The grapes were pretty pathetic looking the last couple of years because they were kind of all over the place and the fence they were on collapsed. I cut the grapes back tremendously and then Todd put up the fence. Thanks to Michelle and Bob for giving up the fencing they had left over from their project last year.

Guys, I love it!

Oh to be a child and not have the worries!

Lettuce seeds that were getting ready to go in the ground. Potatoes, peas, radish, lettuce and spinach so far!

The rock garden by our back garden was also rebuilt on Saturday morning. Ready to hold the petunias that I am growing from seed!! The rock in the very front with the words on it, is a quote from Dorothy ...
"There's no place like home"!

My lovely checkerboard flower in full bloom.

Anyone know the name off hand?

Daffyies standing tall!! I have tons of different varieties!

Graydon playing with a new toy that Todd got him much to my dismay. A legit sling shot. Trust me he only shoots at cans and trees, NO ANIMALS!!! He would never anyways!!

On top of all that, the rhubarb was weeded, edged and mulched. Lawn was mowed by Todd and he taught Graydon how to mow the in the larger fields for now. Graydon went slow and did a really good job, he's hired!!

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So I guess I should tell you all what I did and how I NEVER will do it again. EVER!!! I was really tired on Sunday night around 4:30 after our busy weekend of yard work, so I sat for a while and then asked Todd while dinner was cooking away on the grill, if he could get Graydons motorcycle out for me cause I wanted to cruise over to Marys to say hi. She lives just down the street, ample walking distance. I started it and off I went, cruising around the fields and then over for a short gab to catch up. When I left there I cruised around the bottom of her yard in 1st, then 2nd and then headed up the slope of her yard. For some stupid reason I put it into 3rd going up the hill, gassed it, too much power (see where I am going with this?), did a wheelie and the damn thing knocked me off (because obviously I didn't know what I was doing). I fell, HARD, felt a pop in my back, knocked the wind out of me, foot peg raked across my inside left calf, brush burns all over the other leg and my shoulder. I am hurt, hurt, sore and more hurt. I keep having muscle spasms in my back which make it so I can't breathe. I called Dr. Brian and he got me in yesterday to work on me. Needless to say TG nobody was in the waiting room when he was or else they would have heard some interesting language coming out of me. It is totally my fault and I am not complaining but I am just soooo mad at myself for doing it.

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Please no sympathy, just know what you are doing before you get on something like that,

please!

Remembering

Remembering my Dad

today

and

every day!

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"The heart hath its own memory, like the mind. And in it are enshrinedthe precious keepsakes, into which is wrought the giver's loving thought." ~ H.W. Longfellow

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"I have only slipped away into the next room, I am I and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Play, smile, think of me. All is well."~ Henry Scott Holland

Break

After this past weekend I needed a well deserved break from blogging. My apologies to all my readers. The weekend started on Friday night cleaning out the studio for our pottery guest, Neil Patterson. Hosing down the floor and sucking up all the muddy water with a shop vac for three hours about ruined my back. The studio was as sparkly as it could get for our workshop starting on Saturday morning.
For those of you who are not familiar with Neil's work, please visit his site here
Also, his wife, Sandi came to our studio several months ago and did a wonderful workshop where I learned so much from her. You can check out my post from then here
Neil's work is similar to Sandi's but he throws on the wheel where as Sandi hand builds almost everything. His glazes are amazing and I would love to have the recipes for them!!! They both are amazing artists who compliment each other perfectly!!

I made several things throughout the workshop weekend but a few are my favs. He taught us how to create an oval shaped casserole by throwing all the components and then assembling them in the shape you desire. Maryanne my pottery instructor has taught us also how to do this technique but it was great to see another persons view on it as well.

Here is my casserole that I completed. Keep your fingers crossed that it will not crack!!! Ugh!

Also a mug that I created with instruction from Neil. A different way of throwing!! I like it!

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So needless to say my weekend was so jam packed full that once Monday came, I was down and out!! I have been fighting some sort of cold, sinus, allergy thing and it kicked my butt this week. On top of the busy weekend, my week has been incredibly busy. Work everyday with the exception of yesterday on my hands and knees for 4 hours stripping grout from one of my clients homes. Hard work let me tell you!!

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Well, I'm off to work now, and then to the studio to help unload the gas kiln. We are having an Earth Day Celebration at McCarther School tomorrow if anyone is interested in coming to support us. We will be having pottery for sale as well as a kids area where your kids can create something out of airdry clay. Also a popcorn and water sale as well to help our beloved pottery studio. I shall be there at some point in the afternoon but my veggie garden is calling my name and with the temps in the 80's this weekend, I will be taking advantage of the weather!

Happy Friday!!

A Hiking We Will Go...

Yesterday was a fun day. It started off a little slow with daily household duties but my 12:00 we went for a hike with a bunch of friends. I think there was about 6-7 adults and 12 children. Along the way we saw remenents of animals and tons and tons of moss, even a snake which the boys tried to catch.
Fossil hunting was going on too and the dogs, Logan and Timber had a ball checking out everything!

I actually got all the kids to sit down for this pic...it was after a jelly bean refueling!

The highlight I do have to say was another eagle siting. I am so lucky to have these great photos of this incredible bird. I almost didn't bring my camera...can you imagine!!!

Nancy had brought us into a clearing and told us about an eagles nest. After several minutes we spotted the eagle head popping out of the nest. She kept turning and looking at us I am assuming in disgust because everyone was invading her privacy.

She then took off in flight and circles over our heads for a good 5 minutes! What a site to see!

Check out her eye!

I love this photo...the sun was so bright overhead and there she is right in the middle! Lucky us who got to see this amazing site! Now I know where she lives I will be visiting often!!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all my Peeps!!

Enjoy some humor...

So thats how Easter eggs are made?

Can you imagine having this bunny as a pet? I want one!
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On other news on the home front...life has been relatively uneventful this week. Work and no school make for a long week but we got through it OK. Auntie is home from the hospital and life there is chaotic. That is a story in itself for a later post, I won't bore you with the details now.

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Well we are off to my sisters for breakfast and an egg hunt with the kids and then back home to have dinner with my in-laws. It is a beautiful cold day here in upstate New York but at least it's not snowing!!! I hope all of you have a wonderful day!

Huh...it's Monday!

Hello people...it's Monday and I don't feel too motivated today. I put in a very long night last night waiting for word about my great aunt. She was having difficulty breathing and as of 10:30PM the ambulance was called. Needless to say the updates were few and far between because of the ER. As of this morning she has been admitted with pneumonia in her lung and her blood was down 2 units. Hopefully she'll make it through this...

Sleep did not come until 4:00 this morning...

So for a little blog humor...I shall now attempt to put words with the following photos....

Enjoy.......

"S U P E R S T A R"
"Talk to the butt, boys"

"What the hell am I doing here!"

"Oh OK, we can spoon"

"What?, I can look cute either way"

" Mine...no mine....."

I have been feeling a little under the weather this week. It all started on Wednesday when I thought that I had scratched my throat eating some almonds but after three hours when it didn't go away, I realized it was more. I'm not quite sure what it is but maybe a touch of bronchitis...LOVELY. Just what I wanted!!

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So upon laying on the couch for pretty much two days straight feeling like crud, I have been itching to get stuff done. I actually threw some pottery on Thursday afternoon in midst of not being able to swallow or breath...I would throw one piece and then come up and lay on the couch for a while and then go back down and throw another piece of pottery. Not really effective throwing but it got the job done, and made me feel like I got something done!

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The baby plants are growing nicely. The photo above shows some purple basil emerging from the soil. Yummm, just think...home grown tomatoes, basil and some great mozzarella!!!

Ohhh, I can't wait!!

Laying on the couch today I had some company. Usually Callie sleeps on our bed during the day when I am home but I guess she wanted to be near her mama knowing that I was sick....

Here's a photo of some pussy willows I cut this week. They are out in FULL bloom right now.

And for all of you earring holder wanters...they are in the midst of drying and hopefully on Sunday I will bisque and then glaze on Monday. Look for them in my shop by the end of next week!!

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On another note.

For those of you who do not know where I live...I live in Upstate New York. Binghamton to be exact! Today we had a tragedy unfold right here in our little historic city. A lone shooter entered into a Civic Association and started shooting. So far reports have said that 14 have died and 4 are in critical condition. When I was told about this, I called a friend who informed me that a mutual friend of ours mother works at this Civic Association. Being glued to the television set for hours today trying to find out some information, lead to a call from another friend saying that the mom is OK and was hiding in the boiler room during this tragedy.

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This Civic Association is right down the street from our beloved pottery studio...most days when I go to the studio I drive right by the C.A. It is so unreal to me that this had to happen...reports also have said that the shooter was just laid off from his job. What must have this individual felt that he was compelled to harm innocent people???

Please take a moment to say a prayer for the families who have lost a loved on in this horrific act of violence.

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For you people who would like to read about this tragedy, check it out here